NanoWriMo’s Mission Statement: National Novel Writing Month believes in the transformational power of creativity. We provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds—on and off the page.
November is designated “National Novel Writing Month,” and has been transformed into a time when writers around the world can come together in solidarity. So, the time is upon us to focus and execute our collective goals: writing a 50,000 word manuscript in one month. This equates to roughly 1,667 words per day, and (presumably) an astronomical amount of coffee. The participation rate this year is expected to be over 400,000 writers from around the world, surpassing last year’s total which comprised of 646 regions, spread across six continents.
The movement was started by freelance writer Chris Baty in July 1999, with 21 participants in the San Francisco Bay area. In 2000, he decided to move the event to November, “to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather.” In 2005, the organization achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, and 12 years later it’s still going strong. They host a website with resources, community forums, merchandise and more to help support this community of writers. If you create an account, you can track your progress, interact with other writers and receive inspired “pep talks” from established writers. They also have a special “Young Writers Program” for the young writer, looking to learn, bringing creativity into the classroom, and help kids realize their dreams. Marya Brennan, YWP Program Director, says “NaNoWriMo gives kids a crazy task, but a real, authentic one: tell your story, whatever story matters to you. It doesn’t matter how you tell it, just that you get it out into the world. Students, even those who thought they hated writing, get invested. It becomes the best part of their day. By the end of the month, they’ve worked hard, developed confidence and new skills, and have their very own novel to show off!”
Feeling motivated? Ready to join the movement? Well, don’t take it from us. Take it from the successful projects that have risen from NaNoWriMo: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, Wool by Hugh Howey, Darwin Elevator by Jason M. Hough, The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, Cinder , Scarlet, and Cress all by Marissa Meyer. These were all success stories that began with first drafts crafted during NaNoWriMo. So, take the leap, make the time, and write the words! Get out there and get writing! We hope to see your name alongside these bestsellers one day soon.
Happy Writing!
“Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.”
Originally published on GoRead.com
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